Automatic winding watch

ABSTRACT

An automatic winding mechanical watch movement wherein a gear meshing with a pinion pivotable in unison with a weight is mounted on a common bridge which mounts in turn an automatic winding gear train and time-keeping gear train in common.

United States Patent Tutiya Aug. 26, 1975 [5 AUTOMATIC WINDING WATCH 3,357,174 12 1967 Guyot 58/82 R [75 Inventor: Hidetaka Tutiya, Aki-Shima Japan 3,733,806 5/1973 Murric 58/82 R [73] Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Iitd., Tokyo, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Japan 1,557,064 2/1969 Franco 58/82 R [22] Filed: June 20, 1974 Appl. No: 481,544

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 25, 1973 Japan 48-75370 July 9, 1973 Japan 48-77313 [52] U.S. Cl 58/82 A [51] Int. Cl. I G04b 5/02 [58] Field of Search 58/82 R, 82 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,113,416 12 1963 POIO 58/82 A Primary ExaminerGeorge H. Miller, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmI-Iolman & Stern [57] ABSTRACT An automatic winding mechanical watch movement wherein a gear meshing with a pinion pivotable in unison with a weight is mounted on a common bridge which mounts in turn an automatic winding gear train and time-keeping gear train in common.

S -Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUBZB I975 SHEET 2 [IF 8 PATENTED M1525 SHEET [1F 8 PATENTED AUG 2 6 I975 SHIT 8 [1F 8 EEW PATENTEU Auszsms PATENTED AUG 2 61975 SEXY 8 BF 8 AUTOMATIC WINDING WATCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an automatic winding mechanical watch, and more specifically, it relates to improvements in and relating to the automatic winding gear train of the watch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The traditional structure for mounting the automatic winding weight and its motion-transmitting pinion is such that depending pillar means arestudded on the conventional barrel and train wheel bridge for rotatably mounting the pinion which is rotatable in unison with the automatic winding weight and meshes with a gear rotatably passing from below through said bridge for transmitting motion therethrough to a barrelwinding gear train mounted on and above the said bridge, and finally to the barrel. This bridge also mounts the conventional time-keeping gear train. This traditional structure has given rise to considerable difficulty to the most desirable simultaneous assemblying of the barrel-winding gear train arranged between said automatic winding pinion and barreL: and substantial parts of the regular time-keeping gear train.

The reason is such that the said motion-transmitting gear must be rotatably mounted on an intermediate stationary member, preferably center wheel cock, arranged at an intermediate level between the said bridge and the known pillar plate. and indeed, in close proximity to the center of the movement where the center gear, fourth wheel and the like are erowdedly arranged, thus the arbor of the said transmitting gear being substantially impossible to arrange in position. A representative arrangement of the motion-transmitting gear commonly adopted is such that the arbor is arranged at a somewhat remote distance from the movement center and the gear is formed into a two-stage mode, the upper stage portion being of smaller diameter than the lower stage portion so as to avoid interference with the center portion of the movement yet to cooperate with the barrel-winding gear train. and the larger diameter lower stage portion serving exclusively for cooperative engagement with the automatic weight pinion.

The said motion-transmitting gear must have an enlarged stop means provided at its lowermost end for effectively preventing occasional axial disengagement from position. Therefore, it is practically impossible to assemble it in one step together with substantial members of the barrel-winding and time-keeping gear trains on the common bridge.

In addition, this known structure increases disadvantageously the overall thickness of the watch movement, and indeed, contrary to the continuing demand among the consumers requiring the thinnest possible watches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main object of the present invention is to provide an automatic winding watch devoid of the aforementioned several disadvantages and highly convenient in the assembly job. while satisfying the minimum thickness requirement.

This and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent by consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention by reference to the accompanying drawings.

In summary. in the improved watch movement according to this invention, the aforementioned conven tional motion-transmitting gear has been dispensed with, and thus the winding weight pinion directly meshes a first member of the barrel-winding gear train, this first member is mounted on a barrel-and-train wheel bridge, and in addition, the weight pinion is also mounted on the same bridge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic bottom plan view of a watch movement according to the first embodiment of the invention, wherein, an automatic winding weight has been illustrated in chain-dotted line and several wheel members in their outline configuration only.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational section of the watchrnovement, taken along section line IIII' of FIG. I. I

FIG. 3 is enlarged elevational section of the watch movement taken along section line IIIIII' shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a click shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a similar view to FIG. 1, showing a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarge sectional view taken along section line VIVI' shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 2, taken along section line VII\/II shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along section line VIII-VIII shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a similar view to FIG. I, showing a third embodiment of the invention. I

FIG. 10 is a similar view to FIG. 2, taken along a section line XXl shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. II is an enlarged perspective view of a clutch spring shownxin' FIGS. 9 and I0.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring nowto the accompanying drawings, several preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detailj In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 3, numeral 1 represents a pinion which is fixedly attached to an oscillatable weight 31 which is shown in its substantial part in FIG. 2 and in plan configuration in FIG. I. The pinion comprises a serrated lower part la for attachment of said weight 3I and an upper pinion proper lb rigidly unite cl'with each other. The pinion proper 1b is housed completely in an idle space formed in a barrcl-and-train wheel bridge 11 and is arranged. see FIG. 2, to project above the bridge 11. As is illustrated in FIG. I and as is-shown in FIG. 2, the pinion proper lb meshes with a first gear part included in a first reduction gear wheel assembly 2 which comprises a one way rotatable ratchet wheel 2b. This gear wheel assembly 2 further comprises an axially elongated pinion 20. As seen from FIG. 2, a pair of star pinions 2d and 2d are kept in meshing relationship with the ratchet wheel 2b and rotatably mounted on shaft portions 32 and 33, respectively, which are made integral with a mounting disc 20 arranged concentrically and rigidly with said elongated pinion 2e. Ratchet wheel 2b is rotatably mounted on the lower extension shaft portion 20'. For simplicity, one of star pinions at 33 has been omitted from FIG. I. The lower shaft extension 20' is rotatably mounted in a bearing Ila which is mounted in turn rigidly on the bridge II, In the similar way, the corresponding upper extension shaft 2c is rotatably mounted in a bearing 1211 which is mounted in turn on a conventional pillar plate 12 only partly shown in its section in FIGS. 2 and 3.

When the weight 31 is oscillated together with the pinion 1 around the axis of a headed and shouldered pinion shaft 35 pressfit on the bridge II, in counter clockwise and barrel-winding direction in FIG. l,v as shown by a small arrow 34 (FIG. l a toggle action will occur between ratchet wheel 21;, on the one hand, and star pinions 2d; 2d, as is commonly known see, for ex ample, U.S. Letters Patent to Vaucher, No. 2,752,751, July 3, 1956, so as to provide a kind of one-way clutch operation so that a first reduction gear wheel 2:: and pinion 2e may be rotated in its provisionally established mutual rigid connection and conjointly around the axis of. the pinion portion 20. For this purpose, the pinion portion 20 passes freely through an. opening 30a extending transversely through an intermediate bridge 30 which is mounted in turn rigidly on the plate 12 by means of a plurality of short pillars, not shown,

On the contrary, when the first reduction gear 2a is rotated in the opposite direction to the barrel-winding direction, relative meshing movement will occur between ratchet wheelZb, on the one hand, and star pinions 2d; 2d, on the other hand so that the gear 2a may rotate in idle.

Numeral 8 identifies in FIG. 1 has been punched out from a phosphor bronze sheet and comprises an outer curved spring portion 8a, an inner curved spring portion 81) having a lateral interruption 8c, and two pawl projections 8d and 80, as shown specifically in FIG. 4. These pawl projections normally engage with peripheral tooth on a second reduction gear 3a which is pressure fit on upper part of a rigid arbor or shaft 3 carrying integrally a second reduction pinion 3b, said reduction gear 3a meshing with said pinion portion 20. Thearrangement and configuration of pawl projections 8d and 8e are so selected and designed that second reduction gear 3a is allowed to rotate in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 1, but it is prevented from its performing the reverse rotation. Due to the provision of the laterally interrupted inner curved spring portion 8/), the click element 8 may easily be slipped into position embracing a headed stud pin 36 which has been studded on the plate 12 although not specifically shown. By. applying a slight lateral finger pressure, the click element 8 can easily be disengaged from position. Without performing such intentional disengagement of the click element, accumulated mechanical energy in a power spring to be described can not be releascd. By the provision of the lateral interruption 80, the stud-receiving open recess Sfdefined by the inner periphery of resilient inner curved portion 8b can beresiliently expanded and contracted as necessary during the attachment or disengagement of the click element in or out ofan assembled position.

Second reduction pinion 3h meshes with a winding gear 4 which is fixedly mounted on an arbor orshaft 37 rotatably mounted on and between the bridge II and plate 12 by means of respective bearings 11c and 121'. On the shaft 37, a barrel mounted which cncascs the barrel spring as conventionally, although not specifically shown. The barrel is formed with a barrel gear 5a a click element which which meshes in practice with conventional center wheel 38 for driving time display hands, not shown, although said barrel gear and said center wheel have been shown as if they be arranged in their mutually sep- 5 arated position.

As seen in FIG. 3, third gear 13, further gear 14 and escape wheel 15 which pass through respective bores d, 30c and 30f of the intermediate bridge 30 with ample idle plays are rotatably mounted by and between the bridge 11 and pillar plate 12 by means of respective bearing pairs 11d; 12d, 1 le; I2e and 11f; 12f. Numerals 39 and represent conventional anchor unit and balance complete, respectively.

S 1 OPERATION When the oscillatable weight 31 oscillates on account of the watch wearers physical movement, oscillation is transmitted therefrom through the pinion proper 1b of pinion 1 and the first gear part 2a of first reduction gear wheel assembly 2. When the oscillating movement of the weight 31 coincides in its direction with the barrelwinding direction, motion is transmitted further from the ratchet wheel 2b fixedly attached to gear part 2a, through star pinions 2d and 2d, respective arbors 32; 33 disc 20. By the corresponding rotation of this disc 20, motion is transmitted from the latter through pinion 2e to second reduction gear 3a, thence further through second reduction pinion 3b and winding gear 4 to the power spring, not shown, housed in the barrel 5, thus the barrel spring winding operation being executed, and so on.

Energy is therefore accumulated in the barrel spring by repeated oscillation of the weight 31. Then, the energy can be transmitted in the form of a springreleasing torque, so as to rotate the second reduction gear 3a in the reverse direction. This reverse torque is, however, received by the click element 8, as conventional before rotating the gear 311.

When the weight 31 oscillates in the opposite or nonbarrel winding direction, motion will be transmitted therefrom through pinion proper lb, gear 2a and ratchet wheel 21) to star pinions 2d and 2d which are caused thereby to idle. In this case, a weak torque will be transmitted to pinion 2e and gear 3a. But, in practice, this torque is prevented by click element 8 from further transmission. Therefore, second reduction gear 3a, second reduction pinion 3b and winding gear 4 are caused to rotate substantially in the barrel-winding direction only.

For the time-keeping drive, motion will be transmitted from barrel 5 and thus its gear 5a, through center wheel 38, third gear 13, fourth gear 14, escape wheel 15, anchor unit 39 to balance complete 40 so on. as conventionally.

The pinion l is supported on and by the bridge 11 and its effective portion 111 is arranged above the bottom surface of the bridge. The only downwardly projected portion is that denoted la which registers substantially and horizontally to the oscillatable weight 31, and without use of a specific and separate mounting bridge from that shown at I]. In this way, a thinaspossible automatic winding mechanical watch movement can be realized. Since the weight pinion proper lb .which is arranged at the center ot'thc watch movement, and the first gear part 2a which is rotatably supported I at its both arbor ends on and by the bridge I I and pillar plate 12, these parts lb and 2a are mounted in effect on one and thesame bridge which mounts the barrel winding gear train as well as the time-keeping regular gear train, these parts can be assembled in one step which facilitates the watch movement assembly job to a substantial degree, in addition to the verypositive and accurate meshing engagement between the two parts.

In the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 8, (elements functioning in accordance with 1 those described above, are identified by similar reference numerals, where possiblefincreased by' "-l) numeral 101 represents a pinion unit which is 'rigidly attached to an oscillating weight 131- as'will be dethis'purpose a non-circular opening 121:: for snugly receiving the correspondingly shaped lowermost end of said lower part 101a. For assuring the said fixed connection among the members 101, 120c, l20d and 121, a headed screw-member 122 is threaded into ,a tapped axial bore 1010 of pinionunit 1.01 from below in FIG.

Hub member 121 represents substantiallya thin and diametrally extending bar having two,semicircular end enlargements 121/) and 121(- which arefiXedly-attachcd to the correspondingly shaped shallow recesses as at 131a, FIG. 6, by glueing, welding or thelike .conventional attaching technique. The hub member is formed at its central region with a similar semicircular shaped enlargement 121d arranged in opposition to the correspondingly shaped recess 131d of the oscillating weight 131, shown in the similar way as in the first embodiment, with a small clearance. All these enlargements 121b, l2lc and 12111 project, see FIG. 5, in the same direction, or more specifically rightwards in FIG. 5.

By adopting the aforementioned mechanism, the oscillating eccentric weight 131 may have almost semicircular configuration when seen in FIG. 5 and the hub member extends from outside of the diameter of the semicircle of the eccentric weight and at its both ends into the connecting areas of the latter. Therefore, the weight 131 may have a largest possible mass when its thickness has a predetermined value. In addition, the

eccentric weight-hub member assembly may provide an ample elastic structure against outside mechanical shocks.

In this second embodiment, the pinion proper lb is arranged at an upper plane above the upper surface of the bridge 111 when seen in FIG. 7 and meshes with a first reduction gear 10211 of first reduction wheel 102 which passes with ample clearance through an intermediate bridge 130, as before. and is rotatably mounted by and between the bridge 111 and the plate 112 by means of respective bearings 111a and 112a in the manner previously described. The wheel 102 comprises a first reduction pinion 1020 which meshes with a loosely mounted second reduction gear 103a of second reduction wheel 103 rotatably mounted by and between the bridge 111 and the plate 112 by means of re spective bearings 111/) and 11212. The wheel 103 passing with ample clearance through intermediate bridge 6 f. 130 as before, and comprises .further a second reduction pinion 1031i meshing with, an intermediate gear 123 which is rotatably mounted by and between the intermediate bridge 130 and-i the plate -1.121-The wheel 103 further comprisesa loosely mounted 'ratch'e t wheel 1030 and a fixedly mounted disc l03d'having as'mall shaft projection 10 3gfma'de integral therewith and carrying thereon 'a star pihiori103g. The structure and operation :of ratchet wheel and star pinion are same ceritrically with each other, asin the first embodiment Bearings 1110 and, l 120 correspond to those shown and described at 11c -,1'2t",i.r espectively, in the first embodiment. i

OPERATION When the weight 131 operation oscillates, movement is transmitted through pinion 101 and thus pinion proper 1 011 thereofto thegear part 102a of first reduction gear wheel assembly 102, andso on,- as.was referred to hereinbefore, finally tothe winding gear 104 for winding the power spring contained in the barrel 105, when the oscillating direction of the weight 131 is the effective one. When, on the contrary, the oscillating direction of the-weight 131 isithe reversed and noneffective'one, '-nowinding torque is transmitted :to-the power or barrel spring, as was referred to also in the foregoing-In this respectmain structure and operation of the second embodiment is readily understood by referring to the first embodiment, because, generally speaking, each of the main parts of the present embodiment has been denoted by the same reference numeral adopted in the first embodiment, yet being added with for easy comparison.

In the second embodiment, the pinion proper 101b is rotatably mounted by means of ball bearing unit 100 and arranged on and above the upper surface of the bridge 111, thus the desired thin-as-possible-structure of the watch movement is further facilitated. The operation is still further superior through the bearing structure but the assemblying facility is still facilitated and improved as before.

Finally, the third embodiment of the invention will be described by reference to FIGS. 9 11.

In this third embodiment, each of the main operating parts has been shown by the same reference numeral of the corresponding part of the first embodiment being supplemented by 200 for ready identification.

In this embodiment, the eccentric and oscillatable weight-supporting hub member 221 is rotatably supported by the ball bearing 300 in the same way as in the second embodiment, which bearing is mounted fixedly inthe bridge 211 which is similar to that shown at 111 therein.

The weight pinion 201 is press-fit in the upper and inner race element 22011, a dust-preventing plug 240 being in turn press-fit into the pinion 201 at the upper end thereof.

In this embodiment, the star wheel type clutch used in the foregoing both embodiments has been replaced by a spring type clutch to be described.

The clutch spring 41 is shown specifically in FIG. 11 as shown, it has a central ring portion 411: perforated at its centerat 41b. The ring portion 410 is provided withthree radially and substantially peripherally extending resilient arms, commonly denoted 410 in FIG. 11, each arm being formed with an enlarged and integral ring 410' perforated at 410, terminating into an inclinedly upwardly directing resilient pawl 41].

First reduction gear 202a is mounted loosely on its supporting arbor 202a and formed with three projections 42.'The clutch spring 41 is also loosely mounted at 41b on the said arbor 2020 and the perforations 41c surround said projections 42 with small clearances.

Reduction disc 2020 is fixedly attached to the arbor 2020. This disc 202(- is formed with three openings 43 for engaging with said resilient pawls 41f, respectively,

when the clutch spring 41 has been assembled into position. Reduction disc 2021' is, in this embodiment, is formed with peripheral teeth 44 for engagement with a click element 208, so as to revolve in the barrel winding direction only.

When the eccentric weight 231 oscillates, together with its supporting stem 221, in the barrel-winding direction which corresponds to the counter clock direction in FIG. 9, the first reduction wheel 202a and reduction disc 2020 rotate in unison with each other in clockwise direction in FIG. 9 as shown by an arrow 45, by virtue of the toggle action by the resilient pawls 41f against the related walls of said openings 43. Further motion transmission is carried out substantially in the similar manner as before and could be easily understood from the foregoing disclosure by reference to the related parts.

When the weight 231 and stem 221 oscillate in the opposite and non-barrel winding direction, the resilient pawls 41fslip with only a slight friction resistance at 43, thus no torque being further transmitted towards the barrel.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property of privilege is claimed are as follows:

1. in an automatic winding mechanical watch movement. wherein an automatic winding eccentric weight is pivotably mounted at the center of said movement and pivotal movement of said weight is transmitted therethrough, under reduction, through a weight pinion rigidly connected with said weight and arranged at the movement center, and through one-way mechanical clutch means operatively connected with said pinion to a barrel for winding a barrel spring contained therein, said clutch means being arranged in an automatic winding gear train extending from said pinion to said barrel, the improvement comprising that said pinion is mounted on a common bridge which mounts said automatic winding gear train as well as a time-keeping grear train and meshes with a gear member of said automatic winding gear train, said gear member being rotatably mounted on an inner surface of said bridge and between the latter and a pillar plate of said watch movement.

2. The mechanical watch movement of claim 1 wherein the weight pinion is mounted in and by a ball bearing unit which is mounted in turn proximate to the bridge, said weight and said pinion being rigid with an inner race of said ball bearing unit.

3. The mechanical watch movement of claim 1 wherein said pinion, said automatic winding gear train and said time-keeping gear train are arranged in the space defined between and by the said bridge and said pillar plate. 

1. In an automatic winding mechanical watch movement, wherein an automatic winding eccentric weight is pivotably mounted at the center of said movement and pivotal movement of said weight is transmitted therethrough, under reduction, through a weight pinion rigidly connected with said weight and arranged at the movement center, and through one-way mechanical clutch means operatively connected with said pinion to a barrel for winding a barrel spring contained therein, said clutch means being arranged in an automatic winding gear train extending from said pinion to said barrel, the improvement comprising that said pinion is mounted on a common bridge which mounts said automatic winding gear train as well as a time-keeping grear train and meshes with a gear member of said automatic winding gear train, said gear member being rotatably mounted on an inner surface of said bridge and between the latter and a pillar plate of said watch movement.
 2. The mechanical watch movement of claim 1 wherein the weight pinion is mounted in and by a ball bearing unit which is mounted in turn proximate to the bridge, said weight and said pinion being rigid with an inner race of said ball bearing unit.
 3. The mechanical watch movement of claim 1 wherein said pinion, said automatic winding gear train and said time-keeping gear train are arranged in the space defined between and by the said bridge and said pillar plate. 